The morning ride around Flathead Lake was beautiful, and the road was suitably twisty, although less traffic and higher speed limits would have been nice... It was also really cool seeing the memorial to Theodore Roosevelt at the continental divide.
This was a day of spectacular riding. We went through Glacier National Park, but unfortunately couldn't do Going to the Sun Highway because of some sort of traffic incident on the road. Even so, just taking the highway through was gorgeous and a lot of fun! I found my limit on my new found confidence of downhill and to the right turns. We were riding pretty fast, and I was in part judging speed going into turns by posted speed suggestions. On this turn, the one with the dropoff on the left hand side of the road, I didn't see any sign. I entered the turn at about 75 mph, and had to lean WAY over to stay in my lane. I did it, but the adrenaline was a pumpin'. Bobby told me later the sign said it was a 40 mph hour bend, but confirmed that my tired never crossed the yellow! Whew. I slowed it down a bit after that one!
We crossed into Alberta, Canada near Shelby, Montana. Within a couple mile of the border there was a visitor's center that I wanted to stop at for maps and camping info in Southern Canada. It was closed, but when I saw the dinosaur out front I did a U-turn and went back. I'll admit I was a little wild in my younger years, but these days I'm pretty laid back, and law abiding. In the car, I never even go above speed limit. But, for some reason my youth came pouring back in and I drove around the gate blocking the parking lot. And I figured since I'm this close, and the place is closed anyway, I may as well ride the sidewalk over to the dinosaur...I don't know why I like it so much, but I just love that thing.:tongue
We spent the night at Claresholm, Alberta at the Blue Bird Motel. We pulled into the place thinking it would be pretty rundown. The guy at the front desk asked if we wanted a theme room. We rolled our eyes, but asked what the theme rooms were. He gave us a couple choices and we settled on the Gene Autry room. We walked out thinking we would be in a little dank, dirty, cheesy room with a worn out bed. WRONG! Instead we were in a little cottage with a "room" that was actually like a small apartment. It had really cool Gene Autry and other old time western memorabilia, and a photo and note saying that Randy Travis stayed in that room for a month while filming a movie, and how much he enjoyed it! Wasn't expecting that one, or the "movie star" horses in the area right behind the motel!
We walked next door for dinner, and had what Bobby said were the best chicken strips he's ever eaten. Coming from Bobby, that's saying something!
We got up early the next morning and rode to Wheat, Montana. Don't know how accurate the story is, but we were told by a fellow motorcycle rider in the area that a family was struggling with money because of falling wheat prices, and rising costs of farming. So, they decided to start their own restaurant/bakery using the wheat from their own land. We were told the motto is "sow it, grow it, dough it." Whether or not the story is true, they have a fabulous breakfast. We really enjoyed hanging out there and watching the sun come up.
The morning ride around Flathead Lake was beautiful, and the road was suitably twisty, although less traffic and higher speed limits would have been nice... It was also really cool seeing the memorial to Theodore Roosevelt at the continental divide.
This was a day of spectacular riding. We went through Glacier National Park, but unfortunately couldn't do Going to the Sun Highway because of some sort of traffic incident on the road. Even so, just taking the highway through was gorgeous and a lot of fun! I found my limit on my new found confidence of downhill and to the right turns. We were riding pretty fast, and I was in part judging speed going into turns by posted speed suggestions. On this turn, the one with the dropoff on the left hand side of the road, I didn't see any sign. I entered the turn at about 75 mph, and had to lean WAY over to stay in my lane. I did it, but the adrenaline was a pumpin'. Bobby told me later the sign said it was a 40 mph hour bend, but confirmed that my tired never crossed the yellow! Whew. I slowed it down a bit after that one!
We crossed into Alberta, Canada near Shelby, Montana. Within a couple mile of the border there was a visitor's center that I wanted to stop at for maps and camping info in Southern Canada. It was closed, but when I saw the dinosaur out front I did a U-turn and went back. I'll admit I was a little wild in my younger years, but these days I'm pretty laid back, and law abiding. In the car, I never even go above speed limit. But, for some reason my youth came pouring back in and I drove around the gate blocking the parking lot. And I figured since I'm this close, and the place is closed anyway, I may as well ride the sidewalk over to the dinosaur...I don't know why I like it so much, but I just love that thing.:tongue
We spent the night at Claresholm, Alberta at the Blue Bird Motel. We pulled into the place thinking it would be pretty rundown. The guy at the front desk asked if we wanted a theme room. We rolled our eyes, but asked what the theme rooms were. He gave us a couple choices and we settled on the Gene Autry room. We walked out thinking we would be in a little dank, dirty, cheesy room with a worn out bed. WRONG! Instead we were in a little cottage with a "room" that was actually like a small apartment. It had really cool Gene Autry and other old time western memorabilia, and a photo and note saying that Randy Travis stayed in that room for a month while filming a movie, and how much he enjoyed it! Wasn't expecting that one, or the "movie star" horses in the area right behind the motel!
We walked next door for dinner, and had what Bobby said were the best chicken strips he's ever eaten. Coming from Bobby, that's saying something!
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment